Pakistan issues 509 visas for Indian Sikhs to attend festival
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New Delhi: On the occasion of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh's death anniversary, Pakistan issued 509 visas to Sikh pilgrims in India to attend. The event was scheduled from June 21 to 30, Asian News International reported.
The Pakistan High Commission In India released a press release, which read, "On the occasion of the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh, the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has issued 509 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to attend the annual anniversary scheduled to be held in Pakistan from 21-30 June 2024."
Popularly known as 'Sher-e-Punjab', Maharaja Ranjeet Singh was the first king of the Sikh empire in the 19th century.
Pakistan's Charge d'Affaires, Saad Ahmad Warraich, extended his heartfelt felicitation to the pilgrims. He said that his country will continue its commitment to extending all possible facilitations to the pilgrims.
The visas were issued under the agreement of Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines, 1974. A large number of Indian pilgrims visit Pakistan every year to attend various religious festivals, ANI reports.
Earlier in June, Pakistan issued 962 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to attend the annual festival to be held on the eve of the 'martyrdom day' of Guru Arjan Dev. An official press release said that the festival will be held in Pakistan from June 8 to 17. In April, Pakistan issued 2,843 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India. This was to allow them to attend the Baisakhi festival, which was held from April 13 to April 22.
Last year, Pakistan issued 215 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in the annual festival observed on the eve of the Martyrdom Day of Guru Arjan Dev Jee. This festival was held from June 8 to 17 last year.